Hatching Ideas.

Its March (Ok, its technically still February for a few more hours, but who cares, its still winter!) and its still freakin' cold and snowy and WINTER. Yes. I understand that I live in flippin' Calgary, but seriously, we at least should have had like 5 chinooks to melt away the white nasty. I figure I'm going to be kept indoors until spring arrives, so I might as well get a few projects finished that need to be completed. ie) painting the walls up the stairs (the paint has been purchased when we moved in...I just haven't got around to doing it), wash interior windows (then when the weather is nicer, I'll be washing the outside window...its so yucky dirty) While I was thinking that we seriously don't have the money to have this kind of flooring done in our kitchen:



We CAN afford this idea:





Its called Brown Paper Bag Flooring. Its such a neat idea. You use brown paper bags (or rolls of brown paper purchased at Home Depot by the rolls), and seal it with Polyurethane. It can even be stained a darker color if you like! It looks classic. I love how it looks like you are walking on leather. I'm curious, AND excited at the same time. I don't have a lot of money to spend on doing it the original way I wanted, but this is a change that I like, and WAY affordable.

I have to make my money go a lot further. Our year-long mat leave is going to be over May 15th, and that is NOT VERY FAR away!!! I have to make our dollar go a lot further these days, and provide for 1 more person with it! I know Lliam doesn't eat very much now...but just you wait. This kid is a tank! Speaking of Lliam....he's cut his first tooth today!!! My 9 month old is growing up! He's learning how to crawl, and getting his bottom teeth. **sniff** they grow up so fast!

Where my money is going this year:

Mortgage
Mini Van
Lease on the Caliber
Christmas in Alaska
A week in Vegas with my sisters and mother
Mini camping vacations during the summer.

I went to a slimming wrap party last weekend. My cousin is selling these detox wraps, and I was curious to try these "wonder wraps" out. Well to my surprise, I lost 2-1/2" that very night around my waist! I bought 2 more wraps from her to keep losing inches around my waist. I've lost another 1/2" with my 2nd wrap, and I still have one more wrap to use. Sounds kind of hokey I know, but it seems to be working. My cousin is having another party March 7th, and I'm SO THERE!

I've got to get back on the working out wagon again. Its 2 weeks until the Moonlight Run in Lethbridge, and I am no where near ready for the race. My sisters and I have just resorted to jogging as long as we can, and walking the rest of the way. Sad, I know...but it just didn't happen by my own faults. I've gained 10 lbs since last month, so I've got to get things back on track again. Summer is coming, and I want to wear some cute stuff!

Please help! Steve is missing!!

My imaginary friend Steve.

Picture taken 3 years ago. Last seen March 21. Frequents discount sushi bars and polka raves. If you see him, tell him Vince is sorry about the ice cream and to come home.

Yep, its true. A post from Debbie-Jo

So I know its been a while since I've written anything of worth here. Here it is. A boring update. I really feel like there's something special I need to be writing about, but I can't think of anything cool that has happened recently.

I'm in the midst of re-organizing my house. We threw out our kitchen table, as it was only used as a flat surface to collect crap on anyways. And we put up bar stools to our kitchen nook to be used a the kitchen table. So now I'm finding "homes" for all the crap that was on our old kitchen table. Blah! I know I'll feel liberated after all this stuff is done. I would love a clean, functional house. One that is going to be easy clean, less clutter, etc.

I'll be going to a "wrap party" tomorrow that my cousin is putting on. They are detox wraps and I'm looking forward for some girly fun! Anyone wanna come?

I've decided to take online lessons for the piano. I found a free website that has sweet real-time videos that you can watch. I'm totally up for free at this point! I'm really looking forward to learning how to play it! We got an electric piano for Christmas, and so far, haven't put it to the best use yet. I'd really like to be able to play soon. So we'll see what practice and the future bring.

My grandmother is still fighting her lung cancer. For some reason, the family is keeping things sorta secretive about it. I want to spend as much time with her as I can. I wish I lived in Cardston so I can learn all I can about her. Learn as many yummy recipes as I can while she's here. I'm sure I'll be making a trip down there next week for some grandma time. I just love that woman, and I hope I am someone she can be proud of as well.



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TMI warning


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I've been a nursing mother for almost 9 months now for my son Lliam. Its been a rewarding experience. I loved cuddling up to him, and bringing him close to me. For some reason, after I came back from BC, things changed. Lets just say the well went dry. Without me even realizing it, my bonding time with Lliam was taken away. He had dry diapers (except for the poops) for a week. I no longer felt the "let downs" that nursing mothers have. I figured out, I was no longer producing milk. As sad as I was about it, the kid still needed to be drinking. I went out and bought a $31 can of formula. SERIOUSLY!!! $31!!!

Gimme a break. I was producing the stuff for free!!! AND....it was healthier for me AND him!! I was burning 500 cal. a day making the good stuff....and now I've just made myself more upset over it. ARGH. In all honesty, 9 months is a long time to have nursed for a first time nursing mom. I can now take the good drugs! HAHA I can take cold meds! I can drink caffeine!!! um...I can go jogging without making a milkshake of myself! HAHA I went to Costco, and found that their infant formula was INFINITELY better than the $31 stuff. Kirkland Signature brand was only $18, and exceeded my expectations.

Nutrition wise, it has more of the good stuff from the "other brand" and less of the bad stuff. Such a way better deal in a can that is twice the size! Good deals over all!

End of TMI rant.

And with that....adieu.

Prelude to a post?

Ok, so I've been lazy...er I mean BUSY yeah, Busy lately. So this a post to say that I will be posting very soon as to what we've been busy doing. Not very exciting...just busy. And for all those folks who are squeamish...I'll include some TMI as well. Booyah!

Bad Mommy Awards Part 1.

Is it bad that I think this is funny? Shame on me. I'll repent soon. Promise.

I'm home...and I'm not feeling home yet.

We just got back from our trip to BC last night. It was a beautiful drive as always. We were kept SO busy and I had a ton of fun. While I was having a blast seeing the sights and hanging out with friends, Jos was busting his butt with my dad helping families with their RRSP's and future plans. *gleam* I'm so proud of him!

The drive out there started a little late. We left Calgary at 2:30pm on Wednesday. The drive was wonderful until we got to the "pass" in the mountains. I'm a little (and by a little, I mean a lot) night blind, and when I don't see the lines on the road, I have no clue where I am! It was a stressful 2 hours through the pass, and I have a few more wrinkles to show for it. We got stuck in one of those "please wait an hour while we blast a cannon to start a planned avalanche, and please be patient while we clean up the mess" parts of the road. Fun times. Its always when I have to pee, and its like 20k from the next town. Once we got through the tough part of the trip, the roads were perfect, and no one was out driving on a wednesday night! We arrived at 2:30am BC time. Not bad!

We pulled up at my friend Lori's and we crashed! The kids, were not ready to sleep though. Baby was awake THE WHOLE night! Argh, after a long drive, I had HAD it! The next day was filled with visits. I visited the office I used to work in. I met up with a friend in North Surrey for some Fresco's mushroom burger yumminess.

After that lunch date, I REALLY needed to walk off the lunch. The portion sizes are HUGE at that place...and I'm a sucker for "eat up all your food on your plate" from back in the old days. Argh. We walked down to the pier again. This time it was much more windy and cold. Not as pleasant. But Anthony still loved it.

Later on that evening we met up with my husband, and father to see a couple friends sing their hearts out at an open mic thing at this place in Abbotsford called "The Bull 'N Raven". A very tiny hole in the wall pub that could only fit 20 or so people in it. It was a short and fantastic visit with my Abby friends.

I realized that evening that I'm not as young as I thought I felt. I was so dog tired. From the near all-nighter the night before, and the late night I was pretty exhausted. I drove home and hit the sack. The kids slept, and I slept really well.

My morning was pretty nice. I made Jos breakfast (He was creeped out by a double-yoked egg) and managed to keep his food down. Later on, I met a friend (Don) for some quality fish and chips. I love fish and chips normally, but nothing beats ordering from a place that is actually on the beach! It just seems more fresh to me. The place is called "The Whale's Tail" The owner, Eddie, is so pleasant to talk with and is such a people person. I ordered a 2 piece Hallibut, for *gulp* $16.50!! It was worth every penny to me. It was baked, as well as their fries! Home made tartar sauce to boot! Oh man, I could eat that stuff by the vat! We walked around again, to walk off some of our lunch. Thank goodness White Rock is on a tourist attraction month, ALL the parking was free until the end of the month to lure in more tourists.

Lori gave me the night off from the kids so I could go and hang out with Don with Jos. It was a good one-on-one time with him. By the time Jos got there, I couldn't hold on anymore to open eyelids...so I conked out on the couch for a nap. Sorry guys...I just couldn't do it. Home to bed for me!

Saturday was more of a relaxing day for the family. We strolled around the Walmart Supercenter, ate some pretty disgusting lunch at ABC Country Restaraunt. Then back to the house to prepare for the AMAZING dinner that Lori, Trevor (her roomate) and I helped make. On the menu was bacon-wrapped and stuffed flank steak, twice baked potatoes and salad. I was in charge of the twice baked potatoes. I have not made any before, and was dying to know how. Lori started by providing some potatoes that were the size of my head. So these babies were friggin amazing!

Oh boy dinner was good.

I'm very grateful for good friends. I'd like to think I work hard to keep my good friends. Thanks Lori for putting up with us. We love you.

The drive home was beautiful, we only ran out of gas once. Just off the coquihalla (which there is no more toll booth by the way, we learned the hard way, we ended up in Chilliwack and thought "where the heck are the toll booths...did we drive through them and just not know it?") and we cruised into the gas station with mere feet to spare. Thank goodness I listened to the Holy Spirit on this one!

Everyone is now home safe. I'm still getting used to being back home. I miss BC, and I missed Alberta as well...I'm torn. I love both places and could live in either very happily.

No time to relax!

It feels like I don't have a second to sit still. I'm either packing for the ranch, coming home from the ranch and cleaning the house, cleaning the house again for my mom and sister's visit, cleaning up after my mom and sister's visit, and packing again for the Vancouver trip tomorrow. Woah! I feel like I'm busy ALL the time.

So we are leaving to go to Surrey/Abbotsford/Langley/White Rock tomorrow so Jos can do some business out there. Its RRSP season, and since Jos is a specialist in helping people make wise financial decisions, I thought I'd tag along for the ride with the kids. I think I'll be more busy than he is with all my visits!!! I love the drive. Its so peaceful and beautiful. I love that Jos and I can have the most open and meaningful conversations while we are driving. Its my favorite part of the drive! Today I've spent most of the day doing laundry, cleaning, doing dishes, and packing yummy snacks and food for the trip. We'll be staying with a good friend, and I'm so happy to spend some time with her! You rock Lori! (How's THAT for a shout out?)

I've totally slacked off these last couple of weeks with working out. I have not done a single exercise these last 2 weeks!!! For shame! I haven't gain any weight, I'm just not consistant. I also have the Moonlight run coming up, and I haven't trained at all for that. As soon as I get back from the coast (Sunday night) I'll be up and at 'em with the training at the gym.

Well, that's all for now.

I'll try and post while I'm out and about this week.